Adventure Risk Challenge (ARC) transforms the trajectories of teenagers from low-income families in California’s Central Valley through environmental education, mentoring, hiking trips and more. In addition to helping students build core academic, social and emotional skills, ARC encourages participants to forge meaningful connections to public lands. Program data show that 99 percent of alumni have finished high school on time, and more than 80 percent have gone on to college.

2019 marked ARC’s 10th year of Yosemite-based programming. Since the program first started bringing teens to Yosemite, Conservancy donors have helped hundreds of ARC participants develop valuable skills through academic-year retreats, mentorships and an immersive 40-day Yosemite summer course that includes activities ranging from backpacking expeditions to public-speaking exercises.

In 2019, your gifts help ARC give more than 100 underrepresented Yosemite-area teens the chance to connect with nature and their nearby national park. With your support, the ARC team also launched a new Community Leadership Program at Dos Palos High School, in California’s Merced County. The two-year program combines leadership curriculum with expeditions to nature reserves, state parks and other outdoors paces, and is facilitated by ARC alumni.

Completed in partnership with Yosemite National Park and Adventure Risk Challenge.

Will Fassett

Program Director, Adventure Risk Challenge

Project Notes

ARC works with local high school students who wouldn't otherwise have opportunities to go on summer adventures.